Cardiff – decision on plans to build 249 student flats deferred
A decision on plans to build 249 student flats on an empty patch of land at Mynachdy Road, Gabalfa, was deferred for a site visit …
News Articles
Conversion commences of Bolton Hotel into 100-bedroom luxury student halls
Hamilton Black Developments has appointed local contractor Richmond Bolton Construction to carry out the renovation.
The landmark Bolton town centre building is to undergo a £3 million revamp and be converted into a 100-bedroom luxury halls of residence.
It is hoped the revamp will be completed in time to accept students in September this year …
Plans for 258 student flats in York
Developers behind a £12 million scheme to create halls of residence for more than 250 students in the centre of York say they hope it will kickstart the regeneration of the area.
Proposals for the accommodation blocks for York St John University students on a derelict site next to the multi-storey car park in Carmelite Street have been handed in to City of York Council, with planners expected to make a decision in April.
The land sits next to the Hungate development site, where progress on a £150 million housing scheme has been affected by the turbulent economic climate, and a planning statement submitted to the council for the student housing project by architects Crease Strickland Parkins said it would “stimulate regeneration momentum in this area” …
Plans for new students’ housing in Southend revealed
The plan for the development consists of eight “pods”. Each will have four bedrooms and shared bathroom, kitchen and dining area. There will also be a communal atrium with a glass roof.
An application to demolish the HMV building, in Queen’s Road, has been lodged with Southend Council.
Currently, the Host Property Group provides private accommodation for 90 students attending the Essex University campus in the Southend area, in addition to the university’s own halls of residence, in London Road …
Berkeley First builds ‘green’ student housing in London
Developer Berkeley First and student accommodation provider Student Castle have exchanged contracts for the turnkey sale of a 617-bedroom student accommodation development in Central London.
The deal, which reflects a forward commitment in excess of £80m to acquire the completed scheme in the summer of 2013, is the sector’s largest transaction in recent years …
UCAS Student application numbers – analysis from a Student Accommodation perspective
Yesterday, UCAS announced final student application numbers for the 2012/13 academic year; the first year in which higher tuition fees take effect. The results confirmed a 7.4% drop in applications and were firmly in line with UNITE’s previously announced expectations of a 5-10% fall.
The reduction in applications means that 2012/13 applicant numbers are broadly in line with those of two years ago, for the 2010/11 academic year. At this level, demand for university places still outstrips supply by approximately 32% and means that more than 156,000 students applying to study in 2012 will fail to secure a place. Consequently we do not expect the decline in applications to translate into a reduction in actual student numbers. Based on our current reservations for 2012/13, which are in line with the same point in 2011, we remain confident of achieving rental growth of 3-4% for the year.
Within the overall numbers, applications from non-EU students, a key customer segment for UNITE, increased by 13.7%, demonstrating the continued appeal of UK Universities overseas. UNITE heavily over-indexes international students, particularly in its London portfolio, and this continuing trend supports the Group’s business model and customer acquisition strategy.
There will be varying implications of the final applications outcome at a city and University level due to the various policy mechanisms introduced by the Government, such as the ring-fencing of students that achieve AAB or above at A-Level and incentives for Universities charging less than £7,500 per year for a degree course. These factors are generally expected to benefit those Universities with a stronger reputation, many of whom UNITE has a long-standing relationship with. This is further supported by UNITE’s own research conducted in December 2011 with 2012 applicants. This shows that the majority of school leavers still view university as an attractive proposition for the best chance of a secure future, with 79% of respondents stating their willingness to pay higher prices for good academic reputation, suggesting that students are still keen to select their university on its ‘brand’ or reputation, rather than price.
UK university applications down as fees rise
University applications from UK students for the first year of higher tuition fees are down by 8.7%, according to figures from the admissions service.
With fees rising to up to £9,000 per year, the impact has been biggest for England’s universities – down by 9.9%.
In Scotland, where Scottish students do not pay fees, there was a fall of 1.5%.
Universities UK said the “dip is far less dramatic than many were initially predicting” …
Bristol historic building to be turned into student flats
The building firm has been chosen to turn the former Pro-Cathedral site in Clifton into “high end” student accommodation.
Vinci Construction UK has been appointed by Student Castle Ltd to undertake the work to create 229 student units as well as refurbish the cathedral building in Park Place.
Chris Pape, for Vinci, said: “We will work closely with Student Castle to ensure that all works are finished to the highest standard on this unique building.”
The Pro-Cathedral, also known as the Church of the Twelve Apostles, was used as a Roman Catholic cathedral before the new one was built in Pembroke Road …
£16 million student village for Denton Holme in Carlisle approved
Work on the former Kangol factory in Norfolk Street, Denton Holme, is expected to start almost immediately and the first University of Cumbria students will move in this autumn.
City councillors delayed a decision on Border Construction’s planning application last month because of concerns about the height of buildings and lack of parking. But they have endorsed new plans, which went before the development control committee yesterday.
All but two of the four-storey blocks have been lowered to three storeys …
Student party days are over?
The class of 2012 will no longer consist of “hard partying” students looking for a “laid-back” course.
A survey of 1,236 school and college leavers reveals that teenagers seeking to go to university this autumn are adopting a more “savvy” approach to enrolling for courses.
The findings by Unite, a supplier of student accommodation, emerge as universities prepare for a large fall in student numbers. The final figures, to be published on Monday, are expected to show a fall of between five and six per cent …